The Bears’ offensive line is a significant issue. In a disappointing Week 2 against the Houston Texans, they allowed seven sacks, committed nine penalties, and put Caleb Williams under pressure over 80% of the time he dropped back. Clearly, this unit has considerable improvement ahead of them. Adding to their challenges, Chicago Tribune writer Brad Biggs reported concerning news about offensive lineman Ryan Bates, complicating the situation in Chicago.
Ryan Bates’ Injury May Be More Serious Than Expected
In his latest article, Biggs discussed the injury struggles of the Bears’ offensive line and revealed that Bates is dealing with an arthritic issue in his elbow/shoulder. Although it’s not career-threatening, it’s still serious.
Bates, who was acquired by the Bears in the offseason, had been on General Manager Ryan Poles’ radar for some time. The Buffalo Bills matched the Bears’ offer sheet for him last offseason, keeping him in Buffalo until the recent trade. Currently on injured reserve, Bates is expected to return after Week 6, following the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
What’s troubling is that the Bears went ahead with the trade despite this injury. It’s unclear if the team was aware of his condition beforehand or if it was discovered during his initial medical examination. It’s evident, however, that Poles is struggling to secure quality offensive linemen, particularly given his background as a former lineman.
The issues extend beyond just protection; the offensive line is also struggling to establish the running game and lacking chemistry. Signing a starter like Nate Davis to a three-year, $30 million contract, only for him to be largely absent during the offseason, raises serious concerns. Davis has not performed well since leaving the Tennessee Titans.
Teven Jenkins, arguably the Bears’ best offensive lineman, hasn’t met expectations, and first-round pick Darnell Wright is facing difficulties with cadence and stunts. Coleman Shelton has also been underperforming.
It’s puzzling that the offensive line remains a persistent issue under Ryan Poles, especially as a former offensive lineman himself. Besides drafting two solid tackles, his free-agent acquisitions and trades have largely fallen flat. Trading a sixth-round pick for Dan Feeney seems unproductive, and the fifth-round pick for Ryan Bates hasn’t yet yielded results.
However, the blame doesn’t rest solely on Poles. Offensive Line Coach Chris Morgan has also played a role, having been with the Bears for several seasons. It’s strange that former Bears lineman Lucas Patrick achieved a 97.2 PFF grade in Week 2 with the New Orleans Saints after struggling in Chicago. Morgan’s offensive line ranked 29th in Pass Block Efficiency in 2022 and 26th in 2023, suggesting he hasn’t been able to maximize his players’ potential.
There’s still hope for improvement within the Bears’ offensive line, but changes are needed—whether in personnel or coaching.